Tuesday, June 30, 2009

We just received these pics from the Castlemaine Crew. They have stumbled across a new area for us to explore. Mount Cole maybe one of our next destinations marked on the calender.

Nicks email, “You guys really need to pack the Epix van for a spin around Mount Cole - awesome trip, all single track, and a great camp ground with shelter and undercover stone fire place at start finish. Complete with a bit of hike a bike and navigational arrows, you should be right at home” :)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Whilst Jason today races the Beaconsfield Rock Hop Enduro, I received an email from the FullGasPedalers club showing some photos of a recent club trip to the old Redesdale course, home of the old Kona 24hour race!

I can't seem to pluck them from the gallery they are in, so have a quick look here at the state of the place. With the recent fires, drought and every other form of enviromental challenge thrown at the place, its looking pretty different to the last time we were going around there in anger!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Monday, June 15, 2009

First round of the FTF winter series took place on the weekend. With a turn out of around 90 riders and some of which represent our country the FTF crewshould be proud with the way the day panned out. As for my day… I loved the course and felt great. The legs were doing what they were told and the fact that every lap I had a chance to say hi to the family as I 'rolled' through the feed zone added to the terrific social environment for the whole family. My race unfortunately came to a standstill on the fourth lap. Just after a rider let me pass I found myself hitting the next corner too fast and headed off into the bush to collect some local 'flora' in my derailleur.

Peddle.. peddle.. snap, race over! Broken hanger and a short walk back to find my wife and explain the situation.

8am = Registration open9.30am = Start for the Cadets (15min event)10am = Racing starts for A, B, C, D and Junior classes.Straight after racing has finished, presentations and spot prizes will be drawn, so you are best to hang around because we have plenty to give away!The Course:Expect a bit of climbing, but generally is a very rideable flowing course with plenty of passing / eating / drinking sections, in conjunction with some awesome singletrack!It is anticipated that an A grader will do a lap around the 18-20min mark.The number of laps each class will do won’t be determined until the morning of the race depending on weather conditions etc.Note: Cadets will go around a ‘simplified’ course of around 3-4min in length over a 15min period.Facilities:The Scouts will be providing coffee / drinks with a superb selection of race orientated food. They put on a fantastic spread, so please help support the Scouts.Croydon Cycleworks will be providing mechanical support in association with their ‘mobile shop tent’.

Parking:

The Scouts will be coordinating the parking. It would be greatly appreciated if you could please donate a gold coin on entry into the park as a fundraising means. Thank you in advance.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Today was the first time I have headed in the direction of the devastated fire areas. I felt like I shouldn’t have been there in respect to the lives that have been lost and the existing residents hard at work getting some sort of normality back into their lives.

I have been told by others to stay away from the area as the locals don’t appreciate (rubber neckers) sniffing around. After riding through I feel one does need to respect the people living and working in the area. The decision to return or stay away from these areas is undeniably a personal one. My hope is if we return in a respectful way we can help the area thrive again.

The Kinglake Rd climb from St Andrews has Mother Nature’s evidence that life will return to the area if we give her time and this is echoed through the town centre by the tradesman hard at work on a pubic holiday at eight in the morning.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Felt ends team sponsorship

Felt GmbH ended its sponsorship, effective immediately, of the Felt International Mountain Bike Team, which is owned and operated by AB ProCycling and managed by Dr. Antonio Brozzu. Felt cited "recent financial problems between AB ProCycling and the team" which "left riders only partially paid and the program in operational distress."

"We regret this early cancellation, but under the circumstances it was unavoidable. Once it was clear that AB ProCycling had stopped contributing to the team, every attempt was made between Felt and other industry sponsors to salvage the program and make up the difference," said Michael Muellmann, CEO of Felt. "However, despite our best efforts we simply could not make it happen. We wish all of the team members the very best for the future."